Lenmed’s Clinical Governance Framework was formally introduced late 2017. It is overseen by the Group Clinical Governance Committee, which is responsible for:

• Keeping Lenmed focused on clinical risk management, quality, and patient safety issues
• Overseeing clinical performance and improving outcomes
• Reviewing staffing challenges and the general shortage of qualified and experienced nurses
• Ensuring that Lenmed responds to clinical issues raised in internal and external reports, customer experience feedback, serious or untoward clinical incidents, and potential medico-legal cases
• Assessing the impact of industry developments and making recommendations to the Board

Our Clinical Governance Framework is aligned to Lenmed’s vision to devote itself to remaining a relevant and growing hospital group, championing quality patient experience and clinical outcomes, remaining true to our roots, the communities and the people we serve.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK ILLUSTRATED

The overarching umbrella is the Lenmed vision and strategic objectives supported by our management systems and leadership practices. The 6 pillars each have specific focus areas with the key objective of excellence in clinical care. The framework is supported by the Group’s values and its enabling functions. At the heart of the framework are our patients, our specialists and, importantly, our people.

Customer Excellence

• Continually improve customer experiences and management of complaints
• Establish productive relationships with specialists to ensure that our clinical policies, efficiency initiatives and quality outcome improvements are implemented

Clinical Risk Management

• Entrench incident and risk management processes and systems
• Conduct compliance audits against priorities and risks aligned to South Africa’s published norms and standards and legislative frameworks
• Target the reduction of infections, thereby avoiding harm
• Standardize practices for medico-legal claims and all complaints escalated to statutory bodies

Clinical Outcomes

• Improve standards in healthcare and the clinical outcomes of our patients

The Lenmed Way

• Implement best practice through the enhancement of clinical policies, protocols and standards
• Improve the competence of our Nursing leadership through focused management development

Compliance

• Review the effectiveness of governance, clinical and management committees at hospitals
• Implement a compliance audit process and methodology

Clinical Efficiency

• Reduce the overall cost per event to maximize network and DSP opportunities
• Drive compliance against a comprehensive Group formulary for surgical and ethical products

PUTTING OUR CLINICAL GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK INTO PRACTICE

During 2018, the Group Chief Medical Officer and the Clinical Governance team have focused on entrenching the clinical governance framework with a specific focus on improvement and sustainability in the areas illustrated below. During 2019, more information will be shared on individual projects.